
Knysna woodpecker
I haven't really had time to take photos recently, but when a bird I have never seen turned up outside, that was it, everything else got pushed aside!
Knysna woodpeckers are endemic to South Africa and in particular to the coastal plains around the Western Cape. They are uncommon sightings, normally located by their shrill 'scream' or the sound of their tapping. Unlike many other woodpeckers, the Knysna does not 'drum'. The males have a red bar under their eye, like this one, and the females is black. These birds are globally considered as 'Near Threatened' because of their restricted range. It is estimated there are between 1000-1500 in protected areas.
Lucky, lucky me!

The Knysna woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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